SouthernSon

I was instructing a fellow in an automatic C4. Other than tires out of balance everything seemed OK. About half way through a session he shouted, "No brakes!". Fortunately, it was the uphill turn 9 at Putnam and he had just enough travel left to get it slowed to accomodate the turn. It seems he learned left foot braking while autocrossing and apparently had been dragging the brakes just enough to boil the fluid badly. Guy was really smooth with the braking and power so I had no idea what he was doing. Lesson learned - not only look at the hands on the steering wheel but check out the feet on the pedals! Great guy to work with and I am sure he will get it all worked out just fine on the brakes.

RaleighSS

Thanks for the tip ... I usually do not look at their feet

sebdavid

Always look at feet. Some people also have a tendency to ride the clutch or automatically depress it when braking.

jaa1992

Yep. I started in an 88 C4 auto with JL9 brakes. I could make that baby dance on an autocross course. My buddies talked me into going with them to Beaver Run for an HPDE. We changed fluids, brake pads, etc. First session I boiled the fluid by braking too long and basically trying to drive the track like an auto cross

Learned my lesson, bled the brakes, and didn't have a problem till the last session. It was longer than the others and I was going don the front straight at better than 100 - hit the brakes for turn 1 and ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR!!! pumped, got a little brake back and made it thru the turn. on the back stright got a "oil hot" light and ended my session. You know its been 12 years and I still remember thatfirst time!

And instructing I'm always checking my students feet - especially if they autocross a lot!

shakedown067

Well, that's some good info. I plan on doing my first HPDE soon and left foot brake at autocross events.

sothpaw2

I always had the impression that auto-x and road course work don't mix. I felt auto-x did not reward smoothness as the road course does. I've told folks that inquired to just do the road course and don't start w/ auto-x with the theory that it's easier to learn to drive the road courses from scratch then to learn auto-x first.

argonaut

I started out in AX and quickly learned left foot braking and used it extensively. When I started doing high speed tracks I was instructed to only use right foot and only brake in straight line (good advice for a nooby). I felt the background in AX made the transition very easy because the car control skills were already there. So for me it was great training. Four years later I do use both trail-braking and LFB on the big tracks when appropriate. In fact, I'd like to get a lot better at LFB, it's just another tool you can use to control the car.

Really?aZO6!

Argonaut, you are right on. One can't apply 100 suggestions, pluck out those that fit you, or the event. Me, I'm bonkers over auto cross. I've tried left foot braking for smoothness. Flying toward a 180, hard braking with some trail braking, clutch to 1st gear, light gas at apex, apply throttle smoothly with counter steer already turned in, then make those Hoosiers beg for mercy. I've never had so much fun in my life!